# South Somerset District Council elections

South Somerset District Council in Somerset, England was elected every four years. Since 2019 the council is divided into 34 wards electing 60 councillors. The council was abolished on 1 April 2023, when it was replaced by Somerset Council, a unitary authority.

## Political control

Since the first election to the council in 1973 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:
| Party in control | Years |
| No overall control | 1973–1976 |
| Conservative | 1976–1979 |
| No overall control | 1979–1987 |
| Liberal Democrats | 1987–2023 |

### Leadership

The leaders of the council of the from 2006 until its abolition in 2023 were:
| Councillor | Party | From | To |
| Tim Carroll | Liberal Democrats | 2006 | May 2011 |
| Ric Pallister | Liberal Democrats | 19 May 2011 | 31 Aug 2018 |
| Val Keitch | Liberal Democrats | 1 Sep 2018 | 31 Mar 2023 |

## Council elections

* 1973 Yeovil District Council election
* 1976 Yeovil District Council election (New ward boundaries)
* 1979 Yeovil District Council election
* 1983 Yeovil District Council election
* 1987 South Somerset District Council election
* 1991 South Somerset District Council election (New ward boundaries & district boundary changes also took place)
* 1995 South Somerset District Council election
* 1999 South Somerset District Council election (New ward boundaries)
* 2003 South Somerset District Council election
* 2007 South Somerset District Council election
* 2011 South Somerset District Council election
* 2015 South Somerset District Council election
* 2019 South Somerset District Council election (New ward boundaries)

## District result maps

* 1999 results map
* 2003 results map
* 2007 results map
* 2011 results map
* 2015 results map
* 2019 results map

## By-election results
### 1995-1999

Crewkerne By-Election 27 November 1997 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | | 455 | 38.9 | +11.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 421 | 36.0 | −7.1 |
| | Labour | | 294 | 25.1 | −4.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 34 | 2.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,170 | 19.0 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |

### 1999-2003

Chard Avishayes By-Election 14 September 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 571 | 70.9 | +27.6 |
| | Conservative | | 234 | 29.1 | −11.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 337 | 41.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 805 | 44.6 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Camelot By-Election 21 March 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | | 618 | 57.5 | −14.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 457 | 42.5 | +14.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 161 | 15.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,075 | 52.3 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### 2003-2007

Crewkerne By-Election 2 June 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | | 859 | 57.8 | +10.7 |
| | Conservative | | 627 | 42.2 | +6.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 232 | 15.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,486 | 25.3 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
Brympton By-Election 27 October 2005 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Seib | 478 | 58.0 | +1.8 |
| | Conservative | Philippa Hamilton | 232 | 28.2 | −8.4 |
| | Independent | Elizabeth Glaisher | 113 | 13.7 | +13.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 246 | 29.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 823 | 18.3 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Chard Holyrood By-Election 14 September 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Daniel Shortland | 367 | 54.5 | +37.0 |
| | Conservative | Stephen Wright | 180 | 26.7 | +26.7 |
| | Independent | Rita Wickenden | 127 | 18.8 | −63.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 187 | 27.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 674 | 30.2 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Liberal Democrats gain from Independent | Swing | | |

### 2007-2011

Chard Crimchard By-Election 29 May 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jenny Kenton | 423 | 47.2 | −5.0 |
| | Conservative | David Mears | 320 | 35.7 | −0.7 |
| | BNP | Robert Baehr | 154 | 17.2 | +17.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 103 | 11.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 897 | 44.5 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Coker By-Election 4 June 2009 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Cathy Bakewell | 1,010 | 47.2 | +0.1 |
| | Conservative | Gina Seaton | 1,002 | 46.9 | +5.5 |
| | Independent | Nick Hester | 126 | 5.9 | +5.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8 | 0.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,138 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
Ilminster By-Election 4 June 2009 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Carol Goodall | 1,192 | 58.0 | +10.1 |
| | Conservative | Jane Morgan | 862 | 42.0 | +7.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 330 | 16.0 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,054 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |